GIS in the Rockies is unusual in that it is sponsored by five organizations, which work together on different aspects of the conference.The five are the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), the Professional Land Surveyors of Colorado (PLSC), the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA).Also, a sixth organization, GIS Colorado, a "grass roots organization created by volunteers to encourage and promote a cooperative environment for GIS users and professionals" in Colorado, is instrumental in putting the meeting together.One of this organization's primary functions is maintenance of a very active listserv that serves GIS professionals in the region.
Hard to believe, but this is the conference's 17th year.According to Tina Cary, exhibits and promotions coordinator for GIS in the Rockies 2004, the final attendance tally was 579, a 5% increase over the previous year. This was the first year the exhibit hall had WiFi available, and also the first year the conference sponsored a Geocaching event.
John W.Hickenlooper, Mayor of the City and County of Denver | Dr.
Joseph Kerski of the USGS, geocaching with students |
John W. Hickenlooper, Mayor of the City and County of Denver, gave the luncheon keynote speech on Wednesday.He identified the proposed regional light rail system, FasTracks, as the largest GIS project ever undertaken in Denver, and asked his constituents who were present to vote for it.He also asked out of town visitors to talk it up to local Denverites and help influence their votes as well.